Columns
Reading Rhythms
There’s an art to figuring out rhythms. Ultimately, it comes down to feeling smaller subdivisions. For today’s “Ask Damian” column, we have a video to help us walk through different rhythms and how to decipher them on the fly.
Playing How You “Should” Versus How You “Want”
A reader sent Damian a question that starts like this: “Sometimes I feel like I am supposed to be a certain type of player (especially after watching too many YouTube speed demons).” Check out this week’s column on “playing how you ‘should’ vs. how you ‘want.’”
Bass Players To Know: Bryan Beller
We’ve all heard that James Brown was the hardest working man in show business, but in the world of bass players, there’s no doubt in my mind that this title would go to Bryan Beller. He’s the focus of Ryan’s new “Bass Players to Know” column.
Moving Between Triplets and 16ths
This week, Damian got a question about moving between triplets and 16th notes within a single line. He decided to reply with a video on how he feels and practices the divisions.
Custom Shop: Swope Guitars
In this month’s “Custom Shop” column, Jake Serek goes behind the scenes on Chris Swope’s life and work. Chris started out as an apprentice at Mass Street Music before working with Roger Sadowsky, then on to his own shop, Swope Guitars.
Playing Bass with a Drumming Background
This week’s “Ask” column focuses on an interesting question for Damian, and his focus on drums early on before switching to bass. The question included other bits, including thinking rhythmically, harmonically, melodically, and more.
On the Road (Again) with Peat Rains from You Bred Raptors?: Part 4
Peat Rains returns with the fourth installment of his tour diary with You Bred Raptors? In this column, he covers their stops in Tennessee, Kentucky, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania.
What I’m Worth vs. What I Can Get
The topic of this week’s “Ask Damian” column focuses on the topic of money. This is a frequent discussion on social media and elsewhere, and Damian dives in on the subject of “What I’m Worth vs. What I Can Get.”
How to Stay Healthy When Touring
Damian Erskine lost 72 pounds since the beginning of the year, and he did it over a time of lots of touring. A reader noticed and asked Damian to cover “How to Stay Healthy When Touring” in this new “Ask” column.
Triad Pairs On Bass?
A reader asked Damian to share insights on triad pairs in bass lines, solos, and how to use them. While Damian isn’t a fan of triad pairs for bass, he does offer some background on them - and some other ways of thinking in this new “Ask” column.